I am a creature of routine. Some of my friends tease me about this, and I can appreciate their point, to an extent. Routines can trap us, and the word itself doesn’t spark much in the way of creative process. But for me, and I suspect for many, routines can actually free us. When I wrote about Evernote and my own set-up using it, I shared that my system is drawn in no small part from David Allen’s Getting Things Done (GTD) System. One particular piece of the GTD system that appeals to me most is “your mind is for having ideas, not holding them.” This doesn’t just apply to emails and to do lists. A routine, for me, puts me into autopilot for the menial, everyday tasks, and frees my mind to be creative, or allows me to focus on the tasks at hand, without worrying I’m forgetting something important. Routine doesn't have to be a dirty word - we all have routines. I’m sure you don’t do laundry by staring at your dirty clothes and wondering where to start. No. You sort, load the washer, add detergent, start the washer. The washer’s done, and you move the clothes to the dryer. That’s a routine, and one you don’t put much thought into. Why?
So, how do you create a routine? There’s varied arguments as to how long it takes to form a habit (here’s an article from Examined Existence that breaks down some theories). I think we can all agree, however, that creating a habit is easier not only when they’re easy to implement, but when their immediate benefits are obvious to us. With that in mind, here are the three steps you can apply to any routine you’re looking to create.
Routines aren't always foolproof, and I don't recommend living life on autopilot. Stop and smell the roses, even when its not part of your routine. And, don’t be afraid to “do nothing” as part of your routine - in fact, one of my favorite routines is a day of rest. This routine does so much for my productivity and creative mindset I’ll be sharing it in a post later this year. In the meantime, I invite you to take a look at your own routines and making others to boost your own productivity. Interested in having someone handle the day-to-day for you? Need an extra hand for a short time? Check out my FAQs for more of what I can do for you, or head over to my consultation page so we can connect. You can also follow me on Twitter or Pinterest.
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